APS twin turbo kit pumps Pontiac G8 to 557hp

The performance bargain that is the Pontiac G8 is very nearly unparalleled in the American market. Eschewing the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' maxim for one more adulation-worthy the tuners at APS have seen fit to improve on an already good thing, increasing the output of the Pontiac G8's V8 engine to a Cadillac CTS-V rivaling 557hp.

While the Pontiac is not a match for the Cadillac's smart looks or fine-tuned interior, it is still handsome in its own right, and a great value for money. Toss in APS's inter-cooled twin turbo kit and you have a real screamer that can probably run with GM's top sedan for somewhere around half the price.

With power at 557hp, a rise of 196hp over the stock 6.0L V8's 361hp, it's hard to argue with the results. Torque is equally massive, at 583lb-ft, and is available across a wide portion of the rev range as is the way of the turbo. The Cadillac gets its power from a supercharged 6.2L LSA V8, itself a detuned variant of the 650hp LS9 in the Corvette ZR-1, while Pontiac's own G8 GXP gets 402hp from its naturally-aspirated 6.2L LS3 V8.

The G8's Australian roots show through in the kit, which was actually developed on an Australian-spec vehicle (pictured). The system is engineered to be a simple bolt-on procedure, delivering the massive torque and horsepower gains with a minimum of mechanical fuss.

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